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Insights Fall/Winter 2003 College of Engineering University of Notre Dame Volume 29, Number 1 Fall/Winter 2002-03 lthough invisible to the human eye, nano- and microparticles — such as In July Notre Dame created the Environmental Molecular Science Institute (EMSI). Funded by the bacteria, natural organic matter, and mineral aggregates — exist in National Science Foundation and the Department virtually all groundwater systems. More important, they affect the mobility of Energy, the goal of EMSI is to bring engineers of contaminants in the subsurface. According to Jeremy B. Fein, associate and scientists together in order to better under- stand, model, and predict the interaction between professor of civil engineering and geological sciences and director of the newly created A microparticles and heavy metals in the environ- Environmental Molecular Science Institute (EMSI), “We’ve known for a long time that ment. Researchers, centered at the University, will work closely with their counterparts at Argonne, there are nano- and microparticles in the ground, even to great depths under the earth’s Oak Ridge, and Sandia National laboratories and surface. What we’re finding is that these particles interact both with the minerals that DuPont Engineering Technology. These collabora- tive efforts pool expertise from a wide range of make up the geologic matrix and with dissolved contaminants. These interactions can environmental sciences, including aqueous and strongly influence how metals, organic solvents, and other contaminants are distributed organic chemistry, actinide chemistry, environ- mental engineering, hydrology, microbiology and in soil and groundwater aquifers.” geomicrobiology, mineralogy, molecular dynamics While groundwater is generally considered a safe source modeling, physics, and surface chemistry. of drinking water, urban growth and development across the country have put a tremendous strain on natural water resources. Pollutants from a variety of sources — such as hazardous waste sites, landfills, chemical storage tanks, mining operations, agricultural operations, road salt, and sewage spills — threaten to contaminate water supplies. What Fein and his colleagues have found is that the nano- and microparticles present in water can augment or retard the transport of contaminants. For instance, if lead is dumped at a particular location, it may be bound by the bacteria at that site, meaning that the lead would become attached to structures on the cell walls of the bacteria. Once the metal attaches to the bacteria, it becomes as mobile as the bacteria. If the bacteria move, they carry the contaminants with them. Such mobility is particularly important in light of the fact that 50 percent of the population of the United States depends solely on ground- water supplies for its drinking water. This interaction, the process of bacteria binding heavy metals or actinides, is one of the three main focal points of the EMSI. The institute also concentrates its efforts on natural organic matter and mineral aggregates and their roles in the environment. In addition to attempting to isolate the unique reactions heavy metals — such as cadmium, copper, or lead — and continued on page 3 actinides — such as uranium and neptunium — have with 8 10 13 Women’s Student Awards GE Learning Engineering Program and Excellence Projects Developed Honors Funded dean the last issue of this newsletter, I commented on an article in the June 7, 2002, edition, of the Wall Street Journal concerning the national decline in engineering enrollments. In the article the decline was attributed to curricula that focused on mathematics and the basic sciences in the first two years of study and did little to convey a sense for the nature of engineering. In the newsletter I described measures being taken at Notre Dame to address this issue. My comments struck a nerve with some of you, and I received several letters taking me to task In for my views. One alumnus said, “It has always been my experience that a command of (and comfort with) fundamentals is what ultimately separates those who know ‘how to think’ from those who simply are told ‘what to think’ – and regurgitate that as a matter of political correctness.” Another alum commented, “In my first two years in engineering, the studies were intense in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. ... In those days the idea was that one could proceed to from the any branch of engineering if the basics were understood. If you couldn’t ‘cut’ the basics, you transferred to commerce. I would hope Notre Dame still emphasizes the basic sciences during the initial undergraduate years.” Amen! Folks, you are preaching to the choir. To make room for our new first year courses, EG 111 and 112, we eliminated a computer programming course and a physics course, reducing the physics requirement from four to three courses for an elec- trical engineer and from three to two courses for all other engineers. This change now puts us in line with virtually every other engineering curriculum in the country. One might argue that we did, in fact, reduce the basic sciences content of our curriculum were it not for the fact that fundamental principles of chemistry and physics permeate EG 111 and 112. But, instead of stand- alone concepts, they are woven into engineering applications that provide context. I, for one, have been better able to assimilate fun- damental concepts when I could relate them to applications. I guess that is why I became an engineer instead of a scientist. Perhaps that is what the source of the first quote had in mind with his parenthetical statement, “(and comfort with).” The source of the first quote also commented that, “with the dumbing down of society in full swing now, does that mean we have to ‘dumb down’ and ‘glitterize’ at least the introductory engineering courses in order to attract and keep engineering enrollments up — to offset the usual student migrations away from that which is difficult to that which is easier?” This sentiment was expressed in two other letters, and while I would agree with the notion of declining stan- dards in our society, the sentiment is off the mark when it comes to EG 111 and 112. These are not pud courses, and they are at least as demanding as those they replaced (for more information on the courses, refer to http://www.nd.edu/~engintro/). Even with these courses, attrition from first-year engineering studies remains significant, and the reason most frequently cited by departing students is that they “don’t want to work so hard.” As in the past, migration of the departed is principally to the College of Business. I guess some things will never change. Frank P. Incropera, the Matthew H. For engineering students things will soon become even more McCloskey Dean of Engineering, presents Beth Klein, corporate vice challenging. Beginning next academic year, the two-course chem- president and GE health industry executive, with a token of istry sequence will be revamped, with the second course focusing appreciation for her participation in the College of Engineering’s on biochemical aspects of molecular and cellular biology. This Distinguished Engineering Lecture Series, now in its third year. Klein’s November 1, 2002, lecture, titled “The Future of Engineering change is motivated by the growing importance of biotechnologies Applications in Medicine,” was presented during the EG111/112 to the engineering profession. course sequence for first-year engineering students. Like other Frankly, I have no doubt that the demands we now place on our lectures in the series, one objective of her presentation engineering students exceed those that were placed on me more was to provide students with an overview of technological trends than 40 years ago. The biggest difference between now and then while exposing them to opportunities in the field of engineering. may be that, in general, students of today come from more afflu- ent backgrounds and may lack the drive for success that characterized previous generations. Having said that, however, let me assure alumni and parents that, in the main, those students who stay the course in engineering at Notre Dame combine exceptional aptitude with a traditional engineering work ethic and good citizenship. It is a pleasure for me to be associated with them. On another matter, the College of Engineering has just completed a comprehensive and year-long strategic planning process, the results of which will be integrated with the University’s strategic plan to be completed in May of this year. We have set some ambitious goals, which we will share with you in the next issue of this newsletter. Until then, best wishes for a happy and healthy new year. Frank P. Incropera Matthew H. McCloskey Dean of Engineering H.C. and E.A. Brosey Professor of Mechanical Engineering 2 continued from page 1 nano- or microparticles in the environment, researchers in the EMSI are working to develop accurate models of the transport and fate of contaminants in the environment. “These models,” says Fein, “along with the other information we are gathering can then be used to make groundwater clean-up efforts more efficient and to design more effective contaminant treatment strategies.” For example, one of the projects currently underway within the institute investigates how neptunium is transported within natural systems. Chemically similar to uranium, neptunium is a by-product of the production of plutonium in nuclear reactors. Its potential mobility has been a source of concern for some time, especially in light of President Bush’s
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